All Articles For Terpstra, Charles J.

member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan, full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Rev. Ryan Barnhill, pastor of Heritage PRC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.   How Does Sanctification Work?, by David Powlison. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017. Pp. 123. Author David Powlison does the church of Christ a service in this brief work on God’s work of sanctification. This is a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand treatment of a topic that in Reformed and Presbyterian circles has been studied and discussed for many years. If you are looking for a...

The following book is reviewed by Prof. David Engelsma, former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor emeritus of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan   Today’s Christian & the Church’s Bible: A Time to Return to the Authorized Version, by Theodore P. Letis. Winter Springs, FL: the Greater Heritage, 2023. Pp. 73. $13.99 soft. In the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC), the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, or Authorized Version (AV), not only has pride of place, but also is exclusively the version of the Bible that...

member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan, full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and SB book review editor   The following book is reviewed by Prof. David Engelsma, former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor emeritus of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan     The Justice & Goodness of God: A Biblical Case for the Final Judgment, by Thomas R. Schreiner. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2024. Pp xiv + 145. $13.49 soft. The book promises much, but delivers little. The opening line asks the promising question,...

member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan, full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Curt, Landon, and Blake Gritters, members of Hudsonville PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan History and biographies can be boring for many kids, but these were page-turners: did you know that Luther likely glued the 95 theses on the church door, not nailed them? Heeding regular calls from the Reformed Free Publishing Association and the “3 R’s Blog” to “Read!,” Landon (12), Blake (10), and I picked up copies of The Story of Martin Luther: The...

member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan, full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Prof. David Engelsma, former editor of the Standard Bearer, professor emeritus of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan The Abusive Wife: Ministering to the Contentious Woman, by David D. Edgington. Phoenix, Arizona: Matthew 22:37 Books, 2015. Pp. 168. $14.99. Paperback. When some years ago I gave the public lecture on spousal abuse in the Reformed community that to some extent opened up the reality...

member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Mr. Tim Block, member of Byron Center PRC in Byron Center, Michigan. Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America, by David Horowitz, Humanix Books, 2018. Pp. 191. Hard Cover, $26.99. Dark Agenda is a book covering sixty years of policy change in America intended to undermine the Christian principles on which this country was founded. Ironically, the book was written by David Horowitz, a self-defined agnostic, formerly of the leftist camp of...

Member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Mrs. Brenda Hoekstra, wife, mother, grandmother, and member of Hudsonville PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan.   The Christian Manifesto: Jesus’ Life-changing Words from the Plain, by Alistair Begg, The Good Book Co., 2023. Pp. 112. Hard cover, $18.99. Every once in a while, a book comes along that shows itself to be one that every Christian should read besides the Bible itself. For me, there were only two such books; until now. Granted, there...

Mr. Charles Terpstra, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Prof. David Engelsma, former editor of the Standard Bearer, Professor-emeritus of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, and member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan. Theoretical—Practical Theology, by Petrus van Mastricht. Vol 1: Prolegomena. Tr. Todd M. Rester; ed. Joel R. Beeke. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2018. Pp. xci + 238. $50.00 hard.   Such is the esteem of Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706) in all...

Mr. Charles Terpstra, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Rev. Joseph Holstege, pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology—Implications for the Church and Society by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2023. 501 pages, hardcover. $34.99. Writing on the topic of critical theory in the modern context is fraught with challenges. There is the challenge of terminology and definitions. What...

Mr. Charles Terpstra, member of Faith PRC in Jenison, Michigan and full-time librarian/registrar/archivist at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and SB book review editor The following book is reviewed by Prof. Douglas Kuiper, professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary and member of Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, Michigan. A. C. Van Raalte: Pastor by Vocation, Entrepreneur by Necessity, by Robert P. Swierenga. Holland, MI: Van Raalte Press, 2023. Pp xxii + 680. Softcover. $50.00. Swierenga has done it again: He has produced a fascinating, well-researched book that regards the history of West Michigan and...